Jon Huntsman Attacks Anti-Science Views of GOP Rivals

In an exclusive interview on ABC’s “This Week,” presidential candidate Jon Huntsman said “there’s a serious problem” with comments made by Texas Gov. Rick Perry in New Hampshire last week calling man-made global warming “a scientific theory that has not been proven and from my perspective is more and more being put into question” while claiming scientists have “manipulated data” on the issue. Here is what Huntsman said:

“The minute that the Republican Party becomes the party — the anti-science party, we have a huge problem,” Huntsman told ABC News Senior White House correspondent Jake Tapper. “We lose a whole lot of people who would otherwise allow us to win the election in 2012.”

“When we take a position that isn’t willing to embrace evolution, when we take a position that basically runs counter to what 98 of 100 climate scientists have said … about what is causing climate change and man’s contribution to it, I think we find ourselves on the wrong side of science, and, therefore, in a losing position,” Huntsman added.

It might be too late. The Republican Party has rejected science for quite some time. Who can forget a George W. Bush aide that once derided Americans who lived in the “reality based community” in the New York Times magazine?

Jon Huntsman and Fred Karger may be the only two sane Republicans running for President of the United States. Unfortunately, it seems GOP primary voters prefer candidates that belong in padded cells. Nevertheless, it was encouraging to hear a Republican finally stand up to the medieval views that pass for reality in the Republican Party. Why won’t more mainstream Republicans stand up, speak out, and take their hijacked party back from extremists?

If there is no place for people like Huntsman and Karger in the GOP, then there is really no room for the Republican Party in American politics. We are flirting with economic, moral, financial and social disaster if one of our two parties rejects science in favor of superstition.

Hopefully, Huntsman’s comments will gain traction for his campaign. But don’t hold your breath because the GOP is now dominated by people who think Sarah Palin is worldly and believe that Michelle Bachmann is wise.

About the Author

Wayne Besen is the Founding Executive Director of Truth Wins Out and author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth” (Haworth, 2003). In 2010, Besen was awarded the “Visionary Award” at the Out Music Awards for organizing the American Prayer Hour, an event which shined a spotlight on the role American evangelicals played in the introduction of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill.

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7 Comments

Reese MAugust 22, 2011 at 10:14 am -

I have stated earlier that I am no Republican, but if I had to vote in a Republican primary, my vote would go to Huntsman. Maybe his greatest weakness is that he is one of the few candidates that could actually be respected by people outside of wingnuttia. He probably won’t be nominated because the Republican base will cry “RINO” the moment he starts to gain traction. Whatever happend to the moderate Republican?

Edward HarperAugust 22, 2011 at 10:44 am -

Reese, I have family of them hiding in my attic.

Reese MAugust 22, 2011 at 11:02 am -

Edward,

Tell them it should be safe for them to come out when Romney wins the nomination.

Ben In OaklandAugust 22, 2011 at 11:59 am -

Gary johnston also makes a lot of sense. But my ability to vote for ANY republican has been severely hampered by….

Republicans.

Paul DouglasAugust 22, 2011 at 12:39 pm -

Moderate republicans were driven out of the party in a purity siege that began in the 80’s and has accelerated over time. With strident anti-abortion, gay and tax litmus tests, a militant take-no-prisoners pool of true believer volunteers, plus enormous sums of money from business and fundagelical religious groups, the new republican party has “blossomed” over these past 30 some years. Ironic that the party of Lincoln has become the party of Jefferson Davis.

Gary (NJ)August 22, 2011 at 1:37 pm -

A friend of mine was at a large picnic over the weekend and some relatives of the friend who invited him were also there. He said they were wealthy and educated and ‘nominally’ considered themselves republicans, but were lamenting about all the pathetic, crazy and stupid candidates the GOP keeps offering up. He said they were totally disgusted with ‘their party’. I hope more of them see the light and come over to our side by 2012.

Reese MAugust 22, 2011 at 2:54 pm -

I think where the Republican party has taken the most reactionary turn is taxes. Even moderates have pledged not to raise taxes under ANY circumstances, even if it means downgrading our credit and financial ruin.

While I agree that higher taxes in some circumstances can curtain economic growth, Republicans keep harping the demonstratably false mantra that lower taxes on the wealthiest Americans, even to the point of eliminating the progressive tax system, will create jobs. Two years into our jobless recovery have disproven this theory, but try telling that to the rabid, mostly middle-class tea partiers who are constantly voting against their self-interest.

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